Mobile gas and chemical imaging camera

Abstract

In one embodiment, an infrared (IR) imaging system for determining a concentration of a target species in an object is disclosed. The imaging system can include an optical system including an optical focal plane array (FPA) unit. The optical system can have components defining at least two optical channels thereof, said at least two optical channels being spatially and spectrally different from one another. Each of the at least two optical channels can be positioned to transfer IR radiation incident on the optical system towards the optical FPA. The system can include a processing unit containing a processor that can be configured to acquire multispectral optical data representing said target species from the IR radiation received at the optical FPA. Said optical system and said processing unit can be contained together in a data acquisition and processing module configured to be worn or carried by a person.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An infrared (IR) imaging system for imaging a target species in an object, the imaging system comprising:
 an optical system comprising a lens assembly comprising at least one lens array, wherein lenses in the at least one lens array correspond to regions in an optical focal plane array (FPA) unit, the lens assembly defining at least two optical channels thereof, said at least two optical channels being spatially and spectrally different from one another, each of the at least two optical channels positioned to transfer IR radiation incident on the optical system towards the optical FPA unit to form an image thereon; 
 a processing unit containing a processor that can be configured to acquire multispectral optical data representing said target species from the IR radiation received at the optical FPA unit, 
 wherein said optical system and said processing unit are contained together in a data acquisition and processing module configured to be worn or carried by a person, 
 wherein the optical FPA unit comprises a single FPA or detector array and lenses of the at least one lens array are configured to achieve an f-number less than approximately 2. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly comprises an array of two-part lenses. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical FPA unit comprises a pixel array and wherein the at least two optical channels define an image detection region on the optical FPA unit, the image detection region having an area in a range of about 15% to about 95% of the pixel array. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein lenses of the at least one lens array are configured to be disposed in a mounting plate. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly comprises an array of three-part lenses. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lenses in the lens array have a diameter of approximately 2.5 mm to 12.5 mm. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said data acquisition and processing module further comprises a communication module configured to communicate with at least one device physically separate from said data acquisition and processing module, wherein said at least one device comprises eyewear comprising a display. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply configured to be worn or carried by the person. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) module to provide the position of said optical system, said GPS module configured to be worn or carried by the person. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said processing unit comprises one or more on board field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for data processing. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said infrared imaging system is configured to be attached to a hat or helmet. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said data acquisition and processing module has dimensions less than 2 inches×2 inches×6 inches. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spectral shutter for calibration. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said data acquisition and processing module has a volume of less than 30 cubic inches. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said data acquisition and processing module has a volume of less than 20 cubic inches. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said data acquisition and processing module weighs between 0.5 and 5 lbs. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data acquisition and processing module is configured to operate at power levels in a range of about 3 W to about 10 W. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more batteries to supply power to the system, wherein the data acquisition and processing module is configured to operate for a single charge of the batteries at energy levels in a range of about 60 Watt-hours (Wh) to about 100 Wh. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a number of the optical channels is between 4 and 50. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to analyze the acquired multispectral optical data to identify said target species.